That's magic, Megan

TRIUMPH out of grief . . . Megan Moorhouse with her pass paper

A FAILSWORTH School student defied the odds by getting outstanding GCSE results, despite the heartbreak of losing her mum to cancer.

Megan Moorhouse was the top student at her school chalking up an impressive 9A*s and 3As.

She will now be going on to Loreto Sixth Form College in Hulme to study biology, chemistry, psychology and Spanish.

"I'm really happy," said Megan. "I was hoping for high grades but I didn't expect to do this well.

"I didn't find revision too hard.

"I actually liked doing the exams ­- I know that's unusual.

"I got full marks in my two Spanish papers.

"When I told my dad he was laughing because he was so happy."

Megan's mum died of cancer last year, only a day before she had to sit for her core exams in science.

Despite her devastating loss, the 16-year-old was determined to carry on with her school work to ensure she was able to get her fantastic grades.

Megan said: "I just got on with it. I wanted to prove to myself and to everybody what I can do.

"I had a lot of support from the school's pastoral leader.

"It was really nice to have somebody for me to talk to.

"I was determined. My mum knew I was smart.

"She would have told me to carry on no matter what."